Steam-trap.



O. H. ARNER.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 16. 1910.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

1 a T !I atman easner;

m e HL ABNE'R, 015" :mann RIVERS, MICHIGAN, AssIGNoR OF ONE-FOUBTH 'ro ADAM E.

'ARESTRONG A;ND ONE-FOUBTH TO WILLIAM H. TIMM, BOTH OF TEREE RIV'ERS,

MICHIGAN Speeification of Letters Patent. i

I STEAM-TBAP.

Patented Oct.. 1?, 1911.

Application flled August 16, 1910. SeraiNo. 577, 183.

To all 'it 'may camera.-

Be it known that I, O'r'r'o H. 'ARNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Three Rivers, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Iniprovements in Steam-Traps, of which the following s a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in i steam traps v v The main-oljjects of this invention are:

Firstfto' provide an improved steam trap in which the discharge valve is fully opened when actuated' so that the under-cuttng of the valve seatis effectivelyprevented. Second, 'to provide an improved steam trap which is compact in structure and comparatively light in weight and capable of caring 'for a comparatively large Volume of water. Th'i'rd,jt o 'provide an improved steam trap which is very efticient and durable and not likely to get out of repair in use, or become air bound; Fourth, to provide an improved steam trap which is very economcal in structure and one which operates under a great variety of conditions.

F urther objects, and objects relatingto structural details, will definitely appear from'the detaile'd description to follow.

I accompli'sh the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification V The invention is clearly dened and pointed out in the claims.

A structure 'which-is a preferred embodiment of my inventon isclearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which the 'fig- ,t

passage to Carry away the water discharged.

Within the float cham'ber I arrange the float 4 which is open at its lower end and provided with a restricted vent opening 5 'nts upper end. Below the fioat chamber is an inlet chamber 6 which is connected through the inlet opening 7 to the system or objeetto be drained;` A steam delivery pipe inlet chamber formed of the passages 9 and 10 connects the inlet 'chamber 6 with the upper end of thefloat'chamber. The portion 10 of the discharge passage is connected to the lower end of the fioat chamber by the by-pass 11. The float lis submer ed the water' discharge 'for the 'float 'cham be being above the upper end of the float when it is in its raised position. The float is connected to a lever 12, which is pivoted at 13 and provided witha cam 14 adapted to act on the ball discharge `valve 15 when the float falls, raising the valve from its seat 16.

It will be noted that the cam 14 is shaped so that the greatest leverage is Secured on the initial movement of the lever 12. This is as, it should be, as the greatest power is required for unseating the valve and thus releasing the. pressure within the trap. The float chamber is so proportionedthat the trap has a -relative'ly lon" movement and this is utilizedto-secure't e levera'ge. The fioat is, in practice, made light and is very sensitive. i

The steam discharge for the -inlet 'chamber 6 is arranged above the water discharge passage so that 'the water and steam 'are separated in this chanber, the steam passing into the float while the water passes into the float chamber outside of the float. In operation, when steam ols-'aii' passes into the trap, the fioat is raised, thereby =permitting thevalve to close. Whe'n`the steam condenses or escapes, or the air es-- .capes the fioat being already submerged,

sinks entirely to' the bottom of the chanber. This comparatively 'long travel of the float insures a complete opening of the discharg'e valve so that the water is freely discharged and the valve seat is 'not worn away as is likely to occur .where the valve opens but partially, thus opening the valve and any surplus water is discharged, the valveremaining open until the steam or air again lifts the float. Itis found in practice that the float is' actuated with a considerable reg-` `ularty and water is effectively discharged with very little loss of steam. `When the float drops, it being submerged, it drops very quickly, opening the discharge valve fully so that the valve seat is not cut or worn away, and also the escape of. steam' after the surplus water has passed out is prevented. The valve is also' closed quickly thus preventing 'the escape of steam after the surplus water has been discharged. As stated, when the float begins to fall,' it be- 111 paratively long travel of the float is utilized, through the lever connection, to secure great power for opening the discharge valve. This makes it`-practical to use floats of light weight; which makes the trap very compact and economical and .light in weight as a whole.

I 'form the chambers and -passages in a single casting, which rendere' the structure.

not only simple and compact, but economical. The 'float chamber l is open at the up per end of the casting'o; body and closed .by a threaded plug 17. The' inlet chamber opens into the float chamber and 'at the lower .end of the body, the lower end. being' closed by the plug 18' and the upper end by the plug 19 by which the pipe 8 is carried. The upperend of the discharge passage 2' is closed by the plug 20, while the lower end' receives the pipe' 3. The portion 10 of the discharge passage of the inlet 'chamber is closed at its ends by the plugs' 21. An opening 22 is provided for boring out the by-pass 11 and the portion 9 of theinlet' 'chamber discharge. This opening is closed by the plug 23. The structure is, as will be obvious, very economically produced and it has' a large Capacity in proportion to its size.

I have illustrated and described my improved steam trap in the formin which I have embodied the same in practice; I ani aware that it can be' considerably varied in structural details without departing from' my invention, but as these details will no doubt be obvious to those skilled in the art to .steam discharge pipe for said inlet chamber projecting into said float; and a water discharge passa e for said inlet chamber opening into sai inlet chamber below the said already submerged, it falls entirely to' the bottom' of the float chamber. This comsteam' discharge pipe and delivering to said float chamber at the upper end thereo-said passage being provided with a by-pass connection with the lower end of said float chamber.

2. In a steam trap, the combination with the ,float chamber having a discharge at its upper end; a 'dischar'ge valve; a submerged float open at its lower end and having a restricted vent opening at its upper end con- 'nected to said valve to open the same on the falling of the float; an inlet chamber; a steam 'discharge pipe for said inlet chamber projectinginto said float; and a water discharge passage for said inlet chamber opening into...sa i d inlet chamber below the said steam discharge pipe and delivering to said float chamber at the upper end thereof.

3. In a steam trap', the combination with the float chamber having a discharge at its upper end; a discharge valve; a submerged fic'at open at its lower end, connected to said valve to open the same on the falling 'of the float; an inlet chamber; a steam dis harge pipe for said inlet chamber projectng into said' float; and a water discharge passage for said inlet chamber opening into saidinlet chamber below the said steam discharge pipe 'and delivering to said float chamber at the upper 'end thereof, said passage b'eiig'providedwith a -by-pass connection with the lower end of said float chamber. i

4. In'a steam trap ,the combination with the float chamber having a discharge 'at its upper end; a discharge valve; a submerged float open at its lower end,` connected to said valve to open the same on the falling of the pipe for said inlet'chamber projecting into said float; and a water discharge passage' for said inlet chamber opening'into said inlet chamber below .the said steam disfloat; an inlet chamber; a steam discha-rge charge pipe and delivering to said: float i chamber at the upper end thereof.

5. In a steam tra the combination with' the float chamber, o a submerged float open at its lower end; a dischar e valve ada 'ted to be operated by the falling of the oat, the discharge of saidchamber being above the upper end of said float when the float is A in its elevated position; and' a water' discharge by-pass passage delivering into said floatchamber above the float when the float is in its raised position.

6. 'In a steam trap, thecombination with a float chamber having, a discharge at its 'upper end; a submerged float open at its lower end; conn'ections for delivering steam to said float and water to said float chamber independently of saidsteandelivery connections; and a discharge valve for saidfloat chamber adapted to be opened by the falling of said float.

7. In a s teamtrap, the combination with the float chamber, of a submerged float open at its lower -end, said chamber being of such depth as to permit a relatively long movement of the float; a discharge' for said float chamber; a valve for said discharge; and a valve lever connected to said float to open the valve on the falling movementof the float, the lever being adapted to exert its greatest power on the Valve for unseating the same at the beginning of the falling movement of the float.

8. In a steam trap, the combination with the float chamber, of a subnierged float open 'chamber above the float when it is 'in its raised position.

9. In a steam trap, the combination with the float chamber, of a submerged float open at its lower end, the chamber being of such' depth as to permit a relatively long movement of the float; a discharge Valve, the discharge of the chamber being above the up 'per end of said float when the float is in its raised position; and a valve actuated lever connected to said float to open the valve on the falling of the float, the float being connected to the long end of thelever whereby the long movement of the float is utilized for the purpose specified.

10. In a steam trap, the combination with the fioat chamber, of a float actuated discha-ge valve for said float chamber; a submerged float open at its lower end arranged in said chamber, said float being provided with an open vent in its upper end; inlet connecticns Whereby steam is delivered into said float and Water is 'delivered into said float chamber; and a lever for actuating said valve connected to said float, the connection being arranged to open thevalve on the downward movement of the float.

11. A steam trap comprising a central float chamber, an inlet chamber formed in the bottom of said float chamber, a water discharge passage for said inlet chamber formed in the wall of the float chamber, and delivering into the upper end the1'eof; a bypass passage connecting said inlet'chamber discharge passage With the bottom of said float chamber; and a discharge passage for said float chamber formed in the wall of said float chamber and connected with the upper end thereof. 4

12. A steam trap comprising a central float chamber, an inlet chamber formed in the'bottom of said float chamber a water disharge passage for said inlet chamber formed in the wall of the float chamber, and delivering into the upper end thereof, and a discharge passage for said float chamber formed in the wall of said 'float chamber and connected with the upper end thereof.

"13. In a steam trap, the combination with the float chamber, of a fioat;- a ball discharge 'valve for said float chamber; and a camfilever connected to said float and arranged to engage saidvalve.

14. A steam trapcomprising a central float chanber, an inlet chamber formed in the bottom of said float chamber, a Water discharge passage for said inlet chamber formed in the wall of the float chamber and delivering into the upper end thereof; and a by-pass passage connecting said inlet chamber discharge passage with the bottom of said fioat chamber.

In witness whe'eof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

OTTO H. ARNER. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

L. G. GREENFIELD, F. GERTRUDE TALLMAN. 

